Gov. Scott Changing Stance On Toll Road?

A planned toll road on the Westside is taking its toll on the community and politicians.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott told Channel 4 the toll road is something people in the area wanted. While standing next to Scott, Mayor Alvin Brown said he did not support tolls.

That exchange sent shivers to the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, which fired off an email to members this week that says Scott is contemplating pulling the state's support for the First Coast Outer Beltway.

That was news to the governor's office when Channel 4's Jim Piggott contacted them Thursday about the statement. It was also news to the local Department of Transportation office.

Leigh Ann Rassler, of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, said she drafted the email for the chamber.

"We wanted to communicate with our members that it's very important that this project stay on track, that they support it," Rassler said. "It's important to the county, to all the businesses and the residents here."

She added that she had not personally heard from the governor.

The new toll road will replace Branan Field Chaffee Road, or state Road 23, and would cost 15 cents per mile to drive on. It's expected to be built and operational by 2016.

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